Overthinking Eurovision 2022: Moldova, "Trenulețul", Zdob şi Zdub & Fraţii Advahov

[@ubuntuposix]

"Chisinau-Bucharest: When the train arrives , feels like it didn't left the country. Its like it traveled without leaving. It went from our home to our home".. These lyrics are so beautiful they are almost national anthem worthy.

[@madalinaanton3253]

What you missed and did not understand tho is that the train controller saluting the Stephen the Great carpet is romanian, because Stephen the Great is national hero in Romania, famous for winning almost all of his battles and building a church for every battle won, the scene is symbolizing the fact that we care about the same things moldovans care, the carpet was requested by a relative in Romania after all. In remember people in Romania were upset that the lyrics were preemptively considered political, if you go to the official music video for the song you will see romanians saying in the comments that they cried to this song, in this dangerous times we desperately need this unity, it feels suffocating to think that there is something political in the suffering that we feel. The separation of our people was brutally enforced , expressing our feelings about what still unites us shouldn`t be political, for context aromanians living in Greece, Albania, Bulgaria,Macedonia have been separated from Romania for millennia and they are still romanians, 4 decades of soviet ethnic cleansing will not prevent us from crying on each other`s shoulder.

[@overthinkingit]

Thank you for this! It makes total sense and really deepens the meaning of the video. To revisit the Lebowski joke, that rug really ties the region together, dude.

[@tfmihancea]

I think it's mocking official endorsed patriotism like the one from politicians speeches, while everything it's more chaotic and fun with people partying on the same song on both sides of the border. It's about hideing from the control lady, (countries have feminin gender in Romanian). It's about bribeing all the way, to keep "partying"

[@hippiemuslim]

As a Romanian, it literally makes me cry every time I listen to it, even though I loathe our former rulers and religion. But this song just reminds me of the struggle of the Moldavian people, from past to present, and how we share the same culture.

[@stefania-eleni1347]

Well put! Just to emphasize that the historical region of Moldova starts from the Eastern Carpathians beyond the borders of today's Republic of Moldova and goes beyond it somewhere in today's Ucraine. The territory Stefan the Great ruled was immense. And I want to add as it was pointed out that Moldova is the poorest country of Europe and is truly kept like that by Russia. Imagine all those former nations that make today's big Russia in what state they are. I doubt they have many advantages.

[@Average_Moldovan_User]

correction: Stephen the Great is a Moldovan hero.

[@ZONEACE]

Moldova will qualify. ZsZ have made the final twice already and have great stage presence. Plus it's a fun upbeat number.

[@overthinkingit]

We are notoriously wrong when we try and predict how songs will finish, and we'll be happy about it this time!

[@natashakuzmanoska9656]

Yep it did, I was not aware of the ZsZ previous songs - but when it started on the 10 second i stated to smile and never stopped.

[@mb-176]

Top 10 finish with, 7th spot with 2nd televote!!!

[@vem9583]

Tbf I also thought it would be a borderline nonqualifier but changed my mind when I saw the rehearsals and the semi-final. Teh song was definitely elevated by the staging and performance

[@telmanmammadov9475]

@@overthinkingit the song got the most televote and ended up in top10 💙💛❤️

[@Sebisajiminstan]

“Will never make it out of the semifinals” - my dude, do you even get Eurovision? This is what we live for. Second most voted by the public in the final, like?

[@overthinkingit]

We clearly don’t get it at all! But we’ll keep trying to get a clue.

[@thingybob4375]

I'm glad you understand the message of the song. "the journey is from east to west" but really, as an aside, we Europeans take this very literally. This song represents the thoughts and fears of so many East European countries. This is the real world in which we live - it's not something to be taken lightly.

[@krisslav3450]

U don' t see the song making it out of the semifinales? A few days later: Moldova gets 250 points from the public ( in the finals) after only 8 points from the jury...This song was epical ...people in the public were dancing on it...it was just fun and that's what l like to think Eurovision is about. U english people, german and french are too serious..u must not overthink to much 😝 Loved your sugestion about Zdob si Zdub and the Saxofon guy...that would be AMAZING!!! Also, u were right about the slightly political message 🤫😉😜

[@LilliD3]

The jury needs to be eliminated. Every year they vote for the worst songs

[@krisslav3450]

@@LilliD3 l honestly don't understand what chosing criteria this jury has cause their votes were really bad...

[@zmeu_md3831]

@@krisslav3450 political reasons, they voted a transexual Concita Vursts ,then they vote body positive Fat women who made chicken sounds from Israel ,now they voted Ukraine because they are the victim of the war and need support. Eurovision is not just because music, next year it will be located in Ukraine, this is money for ukraine . I as a neighbour of Ukraine (moldova ;) ) i support them in their fight and yeah i wanted Moldova to win but this time let Ukraine win ,they need it now ,its a moral boost too.

[@Cutiejea1]

Me: Oh, its about a train and promoting regional tourism. That's neet! Me after this video: And there's the geo politics

[@overthinkingit]

This is the exact kind of song that made us fall in love with Eurovision. It's silly fun on the outside, but it requires you to read a bunch of white papers from the Council on Foreign Relations to figure out what it really means.

[@denisdrozdoff2926]

But its good kind of geopolitics, because all the bad geopolitics were done by russians before 1950s.

[@natashakuzmanoska9656]

It was obvious that is geopolitic for me when I watched the lyrics.

[@ubuntuposix]

In this case Moldova needed to be geopolitical, since any day now Putin will claim Moldova was always Russia and annex it.

[@EM-wr9yy]

I am glad you described the song in a proper way. I feel like "the no politics in Eurovision rule" is down this year, due to Russian invasion. Maybe now, the song can be understand even better, because Moldova and Romania, like many many other countries had to suffer because of Russia :(

[@armimcorneliu3565]

I'm from Moldova, this songs is about our dream people of Moldova 🇲🇩. We fight with Russian in 1991-1992 for freedom. In Moldova we speak romanian language, with romanians we have one culture, one history, one future. All moldovians people have brothers and sisters in Romania. If you don't know "Romania" is not just one country, this related 3 regions with 1 nation Valahia, Transilvania, Moldova.

[@BNoble86]

5:58 has not aged well! (great video - great song. Gonna finish top 10 for sure)

[@overthinkingit]

You called it! Haha we're gonna apologize happily in our next video.

[@cathy997]

It's a silly song, with great rhythm and dance, and it's got a (not so subtle) message of brotherhood. Whichever side of the coin you fall on, for unity with Romania or not, the song describes the reality of common culture, language, shared interests and attitudes towards the world. I'm Romanian and I'm very happy to see Moldova and their entries bring folk pieces from our shared cultures. Wishing them best of luck in the final, I'm sure they won't disappoint!

[@renskedunnewold1995]

It will qualify for sure, people love a good eastern Europe party song!

[@overthinkingit]

We're terrible at predicting this stuff. We still can't believe "Marry Me" came in 24th in 2013. 24th!

[@ESCTom]

omg I’d just managed to eradicate that Belarus song from last year from my memory and now you put it back 😭 Another great video 👍🏻

[@buddhidev7877]

The live version is a bit different from the video version. The energy of their live show exceeded the roof and they can make all audiences on their feet. This piece is so joyful yet musically complex and well composed. I ♥️ 🇲🇩

[@Mina_Meow]

5:57 "I dont see this song ever make it out of the semi finals" oh dear, were you wrong xD 2nd place in public voting, 7th overall I was just as surprised though to be fair, but HEY HO, LET'S GO, Folklore and Rock'n'Roll

[@andreio4635]

As Moldovan could not explain better , really good job on explaining 👏

[@maryceb1067]

Moldova has a great song with a interesting message.

[@adrianmarin3195]

Hy guys. I want to avoid to comment what happened during the voting process at Eurovision Song Contest 2022. For sure, this song is not a " piece of art ". It doesn't knock you down with a complex melodically line and lyrics to induce a complex emotional state.. It's just an explosion of basic, simple, yet, overwhelming joy. What's for sure is that this song will be one of the 2022's huge market hit. You'll hear it (and dance it) where ever there will by a crowd joined together to have a good time and a smashing party. For sure, Zdob si Zdub & the Advahov Bros will make a lot more money out of this song than the Kalush Orchestra. We just received a crazy enough remedy to help us go along such crazy times that we are living now We should be thankfully for that Mulțumim frați de peste Prut. Cum să zîce la noi, în Ardeal : Dumniezo vă-mburdie-n Rai.

[@dncnlltt]

Moldova was in my top five favorites for 2022. The call in voters agreed with me.

[@efraimgarcia7876]

Also, after that first song was rejected, Belarus attempted to submit another propagandist song by the same band and they were disqualified from the contest in response. The Belarusian station is as of this writing serving a three-year suspension from the EBU following other incidents connected to their coverage of the pro-democracy protests and the arrest of Roman Protasevich, meaning Belarus is out of Eurovision entirely for the time being.

[@Јордан-р1ы]

After Ukraine, they received the most votes from the audience. If there was not for the political situation with Ukraine, they would probably have won.

[@Sebisajiminstan]

Yeah, no. They didn’t have nearly enough jury points to win it, even if the political situation in Ukraine wasn’t what it is. The good ones are always getting screwed over by the juries, look at Ukraine last year, for example.

[@zmeu_md3831]

@@Sebisajiminstan Jury votes are not real votes ,it was always been political , audience views are real voters

[@domiiinik4320]

@@zmeu_md3831 Audience votes can also be heavy politics, like this year

[@timgriffin2021]

Which situation? Can’t you specify? Because there are many situations in many countries

[@corinagaspar3123]

@Overthinking It I am glad that you explained the meaning of this song's lyrics. I've watched a few "react videos" to this song and none actually caught the message of it. It is a fun song but a sensitive subject for both Moldova and România and it did make me emotional when I first listened to it and it diserved it's place in top 10. I do hope you will review Romania's entry as well.

[@cokonewlife217]

Woaw!!! Brilliant comment! Thanks a lot and God bless you! Greetings from a Moldovan inside Romania! The north-eastern region of Romania is called Moldova and the ex URSS took away a part of it. Now the border between the 2 countries is on the river Prut, but this river should actually be inside this region and inside Romania, because these two countries and people have only one Romanian beating heart. They are our brothers and we love them, we are honoured that they took traditional Romanian music on the stage of Eurovision. These artists transformed the pain of the whole people for being broken in two pieces into cheerfulness and joyfulness, they made our tears into laugh and brought it in front of the whole Europe . It is what we call in Romanian "a face haz de necaz". We are very proud of them!

[@Veaceslav-eo2gf]

Rominian propaganda and bullshit!!! Take it easy, and go to school, dear...

[@JuniperArcher]

Back here to say they did in fact qualify, woooo!!!

[@overthinkingit]

Yup, we're trash at predicting this stuff!

[@diddiecapitan2951]

Hey ho Moldova Folklore and Rock and roll is coming home this year Even Putin is dancing to this tune

[@krisslav3450]

​@@diddiecapitan2951 Good one ...Putin...🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣👍👍👍

[@LakeGameCreepr]

5:58 made it to finals and placed 7th total, 2nd place for televoting!! 🇲🇩🇷🇴

[@Anatiumregina]

I hope this makes it to the final so bad. I really want to see them live, this will be amazing

[@paular.1014]

Glad you are back and giving background for songs I would be too lazy to translate and understand.

[@aprilhoy4010]

Thanks for delving into the politics of this one! I thought it was just a fun song about historic and cultural connections I assumed existed between the countries.

[@fartreta]

Moldova is a part of the ethnically Romanian nation (the historical Moldovan principality was just one of several entities where Romanians constituted the majority population), but Russia has thought a piece of Romanian cake is a delicious treat since 200+ years.

[@emmamemma4162]

I love the accordion and violin in this song, so folksy!

[@Average_Moldovan_User]

I love how you pronounce romanian letters xD Moldova is the meme country Im very glad to be from such a country Trenulețul deserved something better Virtual hugs from Moldova ❤️❤️

[@ciprianmihaistan402]

Moldova and Romania have the same language and culture. one people, two countries. Union!!!

[@lastofthebrownies]

It is an excellent song! Was really well received in UK. A breath of fresh air after many gloomy ballads. ZsZ always make people smile.

[@MyrtleP]

"If this band looks familiar than you're probably old like us." Ok ok calling me out like that. Geez

[@saiyasha848]

Welp, Now they're in the Grand final!

[@overthinkingit]

We are happy to be wrong!

[@panajotov]

My phone ringtone has been Epic Sax Guy for years! One of the best meme materials to come out of Eurovision!

[@TheSongwritingCat]

Glad you liked this one too

[@homomanden45]

Hey Overthinking Eurovision! Just putting out there, that Carola Häggkvist from Sweden also has performed in 3 different decades. 1983, 1991 (where she won) and 2006

[@overthinkingit]

We did actually make that correction in a later video.

[@whereIstood0705]

I hope you react to Serbia. The song is amazing and totally something worth overthinking.

[@FORGOTTENMINDFREAK23]

ZşZ with epic sax guy broke my fucking brain

[@davidionita5610]

Just a heads up (as a romanian) the train line closed because of COVID of course

[@thedistracteddoctor]

Not true that they are the only act to perform in 3 decades. The instant thought was Carola in the 80s, 90’s and 00’s but there are others in the 60s 70s and 80s. However they are the first act to qualify for the final in 3 decades!

[@norma8686]

I actually love this song, it's just so fun

[@mk2312ify]

Finished on number 7 ... how 'bout that! And number 2 on popular voting.

[@AroyalMcWiener]

Wait, didn't Carola from sweden compete in ESC in three diffrent decades? 1983, 1991 and 2006

[@najrenchelf2751]

This song like half convinced my gf and I to go to the Moldovan national final next year! :D

[@fudgecameron_]

5:58 **Moldova proceeding to go into the grand finale**

[@zazaza903]

Till the last moment l was not impressed by song but than final.. my mind was blown.. l just wanted to last forever 😂😂

[@eljestLiv]

"Only act that has participated in 3 different decades" Forgot about Carola Häggkvist, 1983, 1991, 2006?

[@overthinkingit]

Seems like we have a correction to make! Thanks!

[@Aerysun]

"The only musical act to go to Eurovision in 3 decades" ? Does musical act mean band ? Otherwise there's a few people, such as Carola

[@overthinkingit]

Oh interesting! We're gonna claim we're still technically right because of that "musical act" thing, but if you can think of other people besides Carola let us know and we'll give you a shoutout next time we do a correction video.

[@Aerysun]

@@overthinkingit Anna Vissi (1980 isn't the same decade as 1982 depending on how you count, plus 2006), Hanne Krogh (1971, then 1985 and 1991 in a group), Stella Maessen (if 1970 isn't the same decade as 1977, plus 1982), Stoyan Yankulov (he's in Intelligent Music Project, also 2007 and 2013), Tommy Seebach (1979, 1981, 1993), and Eiríkur Hauksson (Iceland 1986, and 2007, plus he was in Norway's 1991 group)

[@overthinkingit]

@@Aerysun We put your amazing comment at the end of the apology video. Related: next year we're going to see if anyone wants to factcheck our scripts before we record them!

[@juanmendezoyarzun906]

Are you covering all the songs, or just the most probably winner? Please, analyse Serbia "In coirpore sano"

[@AngelGH_94]

Secone place from the televoting, seventh overall… in the ESC 2022 Final. Ka-boom!

[@Razorgirl]

ESC: No Politics Croatia: We want to do a song that mocks Lukashenko, and calls him a moron crying for his mamma, for kissing Putin’s arse and buying Putin a tractor for his 70tg birthday… while wearing drag. ESC: I’ll allow it.

[@renemortensen5028]

its all about the staging..

[@neomimzyneomimzy5095]

5:58 Europe loved this song! 😂

[@overthinkingit]

Haha never predicting anything again!

[@aimeecortez5899]

@@overthinkingit Please do! It's good luck for the great songs apparently!

[@evetoyoumwah]

...and here we are, day after, and Moldova was second in televoting, just after Ukraine.

[@overthinkingit]

Yup, we're gonna apologize in a video soon. We were super wrong but we're not even mad.

[@evetoyoumwah]

@@overthinkingit oh that's great to hear, looking forward to the post-show vids. :D

[@derbestekommentar5447]

The train shut down because of pandemic bruh

[@nistb2123]

this didn't age well

[@busy_raccooon]

oh, ye of little faith! :D

[@bojang5719]

The music is traditional serbian song, not moldovan

[@vposviatenko]

Do you know what they started from? Something like RATM, SOAD, Tool but in Romanian kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3TTmHypa9-MmM0 kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGS2XpeCiaiWetU

[@dariavaryvod]

Especially disturbing I found part of Ukrainian territory on this map (Odesa region), which does not look ok while we are fighting for our territorial integral and our own existance.

[@larisatomsa3829]

"Eurovision has a no politics rule"?????????????????????????? Nice, complex comments apart from this one that is hilarious:-) Eurovision is ALL ABOUT POLITICALLY CORRECTNESS for years already! I knew Ukraine is going to win before Eurovision started, when I only heard the event will start (I don't even call it competition anymore, I don't watch it anymore for years). And I guessed, yet, I'm not a medium. So must be that my prediction based on the previous years experience, when it was all about politics (western propaganda, true) worked once more!

[@aimeecortez5899]

5:58 HAHA YOU FOOL! /s

[@overthinkingit]

We goofed bigtime! No /s necessary here. Happy to be wrong honestly.

[@corneliusteslaru9450]

Romania not part of EU? Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce you the American average education level! No offense though! P.S. Sorry edit for absolutely disliking this video with your forgive me "analysis"!

[@zmeu_md3831]

zdob și Zdub + Sax Guy DAAAAAAAAA!

[@stekra3159]

Moldova is the cunry that most eurpians coud put on a map lets have fun with these enterys.

[@schnitzelsemmel]

typically American. It's just a choo-choo train

[@jeboshifru]

And Eurovision always endorsed political propaganda in songs, as long as it was political propaganda which suited EU. (starting from "Unite, unite Europe")

[@ameliecarre4783]

That's because this is better propaganda. Cry me a river.

[@jeboshifru]

@@ameliecarre4783 I know your propaganda is the most efficient, you are a very good example. ;) I bet it made you cry many rivers for the innocent people of an "appropriate" skin color and made you completely blind to suffering of those who are "savages". There are some people who are immune to any kind of propaganda, believe it or not :) Most probably you won't believe it, because your propaganda is so efficient ;)

[@ameliecarre4783]

@@jeboshifru Of course all people react to propaganda, or advertising and marketing. All it takes is having a properly functionning homo sapiens brain in your skull. I know it's counterintuitive but we're not wired to be rational, we're wired to be emotionnal, it's human nature. Ask any neuroscientist. We're full of biases and prejudices, every last one of us, and if someone finds which buttons to press, they're sure to get teh reaction they want. Even the greatest exeperts in the field wouldn't pretend they're immune. Those who think they are immune, however, are maybe the most sensitive, because they take no precaution and they trust their "natural" strength and intelligence a bit too much.

[@ameliecarre4783]

@@jeboshifru Just so we're clear, could you tell me which skin colors you assume I would deem "savages" and which you assume I would deem appropriately worthy to cry for ?

[@profiraion6338]

🇦🇩🤝❤🇷🇴

[@jeboshifru]

Hopefully they join with Romania, and then turn their back to the dark side, together with Romanians, and leave NATO.

[@zmeu_md3831]

NO

[@ameliecarre4783]

Check your eyes darling, you confuse dark and light.

[@jeboshifru]

@@ameliecarre4783 No, I'm just not brainwashed into thinking this is some Hollywood bad guys vs good guys black and white world. This is more Predator vs Alien. Dark side on the both sides. A fight between two Siths.

[@jeboshifru]

@@ameliecarre4783 The bright side is in the space outside of the hands of world's two greatest evils: NATO and Putin.

[@ameliecarre4783]

@@jeboshifru You're right, this is not a black and white, good vs evil matter, because this is not a Disney movie. Yet you're the one who used the expression "the dark side" in your comment 😉 It's not about good or bad, it's geopolitics, it's power balance, it's political choices and safety. And right now, being alone outside of any alliance in that region is simply unsafe. Your country might pretend to be neutral but we all know where you stand, you picked a side too. You might not like the USA and think them the worst imperialists in the world (and you'd probably be right) and you may dislike their growing influence through NATO, I'm wary of it too in the long run. At the moment though, for Moldova and Romania, it's the safest option, and the most consistent considering what they've been going toward in the few decades.

[@lafabias1876]

Your videos about Eurovision are just pure delight for me, and I say this as an ESC fan since the early 80s, a decent connoisseur of the European history and geo-politics (no false modesty detected here LOL), and a linguist and polyglot. You might be confused about the linguist/polyglot part, but boy, you do your research on pronunciation alright, I can't give you enough kudos for that effort and understanding that it is important for everyone making videos where they mention foreign names and titles. (All those otherwise great art history videos on YT, that become nothing but cringey because the narrators behave as the only other languages in existence beside English are... Franglish and Spanglish). Plus all your research of the context behind various acts, performers and ESC entries - all of it SPOT ON, and renders great, comprehensive reviews. A loud round of applause!! 👏👏👏👏 You have a fan here!